Feb 17No Schoolfor PreS/PreK – Parent/Teacher Conferences
Ash Wednesday – 8:30 Mass – K, 1,2,3,4 & 5 Grades will attend
11:00 Mass – 6th, 7th & 8th Grades will attend
Elderly Parishioner Friends treated to Mass & Luncheon
Feb 18No SchoolPreS – 8th Grade Parent/Teacher Conferences
Feb 19No School
St. Patrick’s Fish Fry 5-8pm
Desserts by Families’ Last Name A - D
Feb 25 After-School Art Club Begins
Mar 4 School Reconciliation Service for All Students
Kindergarten & 1st Grade Spring Music Program - 6:30 in PC
TODAY - FEBRUARY 11TH IS A 2:00 PM DISMISSAL- On the second Thursday of each month, our school dismisses at 2pm to allow our Teacher’s further learning with a Teacher In-Service. All students need to be picked up by 2pm on those days.
3rd QUARTER PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCE FORMS ARE GOING IN BACKPACKS TODAY – The teachers sent a form with every child letting parents/guardians know if they do or do not need to meet with you. If the teacher is not requesting a conference, yet you would like to meet, you can express that on the form when you return it to the teacher. Please send the form back to your child’s teacher as soon as possible.
TROOPER BELL DISCUSSES INTERNET SAFETY WITH STUDENTS AND PARENTS - St. Patrick’s hosted an Internet Safety Presentation on Monday for both middle school students and parents this week. Nebraska State Trooper Keith Bell led a discussion with parents and students about the dangers of online social networking sites like Facebook. These sites can serve as easy avenues for strangers to have access to personal information and solicit potential contact with a child. He also showed a demonstration of how quickly a stranger can gather information through the Internet. All they need is an email address or other identifying information. He emphasized to students how important it is to always keep their identity private. Trooper Bell also had the following suggestions for parents:
Place computers only in common areas of the house
Carefully monitor online profiles of their children
Use web filtering software
Approve websites that children are using
Maintain access to all email accounts of children
Enforce anonymous usernames and email addresses that do not have personal information
Periodically check websites where children have been through searching in the address files and delete bin
Reinforce the idea that private information should not be given through any internet site, including online games, chat rooms, blogs, and social networking sites.
Encourage your child to report to you anytime they feel uncomfortable with something they have encountered on the internet including being contacted by a stranger via the internet.
Mr. Eric Lordemann, St. Patrick’s System Administrator, also gave parents a brief overview of how to set up a home computer that allows parents to have administrative control over computer usage. He discussed two free web filtering software programs:
Mrs. Jen Maher, the Computer Teacher, gave a brief overview of the Cybersmart curriculum that she has been using in computer class during the last 8 weeks. More information can be found on her webpage under the school website.
It is important to note, many of the examples of the dangers of internet use that were given demonstrated that “good kids” make poor decisions because they lack the necessary skills to navigate these interactions. Both presentations highlight that fact that parents need to educate their children and enforce guidelines about computer usage to minimize the risks children encounter on the Internet.
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 8TH GRADE HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS – Our 8th Grade students took the HS Placement Exams at the area Catholic High Schools. Amongst them are the following 8th Grade Students:
Dakota Smith – Mount Michael HS
Cameron Engel – Mount Michael HS
John Mikulicz – Mount Michael HS
Reilly Meyer – Marian HS
Michael Placzek – Skutt HS
John Michael Hogue – Creighton Prep HS
We are very proud of each and every one of you!
CORRECTION – Mrs. Jensen’s after school Art Club will begin on February 25th, opposed to February 18th, due to the conflict with Parent Teacher Conferences and no school on the 18th.
THANK YOU TO ALL WHO CELEBRATED 2010 CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK –We want to thank our parents, staff, students and parishioners for their support and dedication that allows us to provide the spiritual values and academic excellence that make St. Patrick’s such a wonderful school. We are filled with pride and gratitude and look forward to the future with excitement and anticipation of what we can accomplish together.
SCIENCE FAIR SUCCESS – Our Annual 7th & 8th Science Fair, was once again a success.
A special thanks to our Judges for their time and talent. Judges were, Dan Van Anne, Carl Gnau and Nick Modricn from Mt. Michael, along with MM High School Science students.
The fair was broken down into the following categories, with a top winner in each category:
Behavioral Science – John Michael Hogue, KaLynn Wood & Hunter Johnson
Chemistry – Braxton Dreher
Earth Science – Elliot Fay
Engineering – Nicholas Mason
Environmental Science – Dakota Smith & Alex Kramer
Math – Michael Matz & Kenzie McGlynn
Medicine & Health – Kaelie Lenz
Microbiology – Megan Troia & Olivia Kuester
Physics – Garret Connor
Zoology – Quincey Hogue
The overall winners of the fair were: Michael Matz & Kenzie McGlynn with Math
DESSERTS FOR LENTEN FRIDAY FISH FRYNIGHTS- The St. Pat’s Men’s Club will once again be holding a Lenten Fish Supper each Friday night during Lent. We are asking all parishioners to help supply the dessert for these suppers. We are asking that each family bring a pie, small cake, dessert bars, or other dessert (about 6 to 10 servings) to the parish hall on the Friday designated by the first letter of your last name on the following schedule. Each family will donate only one week.
Family Last NameDate
A through D February 19
E through H February 26
I through L March 5
M through P March 12
Q through S March 19
T through Z March 26
HOME & SCHOOL NEEDS YOUR INPUT - Home & School is interested and looking into offering bundled school supplies to parents as a convenience. The more families that participate, the better - so we want to know how many families might be interested in this service. Home & School would get the supply lists from the teachers. We would not offer everything on the lists - just the basic supplies like paper, writing utensils, folders, binders, etc. The families interested in participating would order and pre-pay before the end of this school year. Families would then pick up their bundled school supplies at the “Get Set for School” event in August. It would be that simple. Please help us out by completing a three question survey. This will help us determine how many families might be interested in this program. Results of the survey and a final decision about offering the supplies will be made at the March H&S meeting. Thank you for your responses! http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/C9DTYCB.
MARCH IS MUSIC IN CATHOLIC SCHOOLS MONTH - Help us celebrate bydonating a good, used band instrument! Perhaps you could provide a financial gift to enable a needy student the opportunity to explore his/her musical abilities! Music in Catholic Schools needs band instruments (woodwinds, brass, and percussion) in good playing condition to loan to parochial school students who cannot afford to rent or buy an instrument. Financial gifts are much appreciated, as monetary contributions enable students to participate who could not otherwise do so. For more information, please contact Deb Lund at 557-5600. Thanks!
ST. PATRICK’S SOCCER, T-BALL, & TRACK SIGN UP TIME – Kids Sports News - Registration is now open for spring Micro Soccer and T-Ball. In addition, CYSL Soccer is still accepting late registrations on a first come, first served basis. Register for these sports now by visiting the school webpage and then go to Athletics. For questions about micro-soccer contact Julie Wigdahl at njwig@cox.net; for questions about CYSL Soccer contact Mike Meyer at mrmmom@cox.net. For registration questions please contact Renee Shotkoski at mjsshots@yahoo.com.
Run with Champions - The St. Patrick's Middle School Track and Field Team is now accepting registrations for the spring season. The team is open to all parishioners in 6th, 7th and 8th grades. Both the boys and girls teams are defending Parochial Athletic League Champions and plan to defend our title vigorously. Register for these sports now by visiting the school webpage and then go to Athletics. For questions about PAL track contact Mike Meyer at mrmmom@cox.net, or Dan Maline at dmaline@stpatselkhorn.org. An informational parents meeting is being held in Mr. Maline's room on Thursday, February 11th at 6:00pm. This meeting is designed to acquaint parents with our track program.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THE ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE – Saturday, March 13th 2010 at 10:00 a.m. This will be the 8th time that St. Patrick's Catholic School will enter the Royal Hibernians St. Patrick's Day Parade which is held in the Old Market in Omaha. Our theme this year is: St. Patrick's Catholic School Celebrating 10 years of Educational Excellence. For those who are new to the school, we have won 1st place for the past 7 years and this is a perfect time for those of you who have never been in a parade to join us for the fun. All families of the school and parish are welcome to come and walk along with our float which will, again, be pulled by a team of Belgium horses. Please watch for future info on the parade. St. Patrick's gear is already in the stores so shop early and be GREEN! If you have any questions or want to volunteer to help please contact: Patti O’Hertel @ pjhertel@msn.com or 779-4304.
SCRIP is “One Sweet Deal” for our school! This year proceeds will help us buy new laptops and support the technology fund. It’s not too late to turn in your order forms to get your orders back by the 21st. Also, don’t forget to purchase your Savings Sidekick coupon book for $20 or return it to school if you’re not interested. We keep $10 for every book sold! Families are raving about the savings in that little book – one family used it last Saturday for a day at CoCo Key and pizza with the family and saved over $90!Runza Family Food Night is Back! Mark your calendars for Thursday, February25th from 5 – 8pm.
WANT TO JOIN M.O.M.S.? A new group to begin in MARCH 2010! Are you a MOM looking for a little soul time every week? A new session of the M.O.M.S. (Ministry of Mothers Sharing) is scheduled to begin Wednesday, March 3rd through Wednesday, April 14th. This group will meet for 7 consecutive weeks on WEDNESAY MORNINGS from 8:45 to10:45 am and once a month thereafter. Registration fee is $35.00 and includes a personal journal. Childcare is available for a small fee. Take this opportunity to enhance your spirituality as a mother and to better appreciate motherhood as a ministry. Please call Angela Davidson at 445-2503 or email her at davidson111@cox.net to register or with questions.
ANNOUNCING - Pre-Lenten Reflectionswith our Archbishop - Saturday, February 13, from 10-11am at Saint Cecilia Cathedral, Archbishop George J. Lucas, primary teacher of the faith for our Archdiocese, will offer his own spiritual reflections in preparation for Lent. This is free and open to the public.Please share this spiritual formation opportunity with your fellow Catholics. Thank you for your support. Presented by Saint Cecilia Institute for Laity Formation
Principal's Notes Deadline:
Please submit all items/information in final form.
Principal's Notes deadline is Tuesday by 8:00am to the school or email to
